Garment fastener



Sept?, 1949. l A. Fox

GARMENT FASTENER l 2 shee'ts-sheet 1 l Filed 061'.. 14, 1947 -A rf. f-

Patented Sept. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT FAs'rENER Alan J Fox, Miami Beach, Fla. Applieation october 14, 1947, serial No. 779,696

s Claims. (c1. 24-2o6) 'particularly adapted to connectV the ends of a brassire, and having anadjustable feature, and at the same time formed in a manner whereby the body of thefastener will-maintain its form at all times, vthereby obviating'the unsightly fasteners at present manufactured which are formed from fabric; the unused ends of which droop and are unsightly, particularlywhen worn beneath semi-transparent material, or when worn exposed to view in beach attire.

A further object is to provide a brassire fastener which will distribute the strain over the entire ends of the brassire so there is an uplift, and at the same time the ends of the brassire will be maintained fiat and against wrinkling.

A further object is to provide a brassire fastener formed from a flexible material, preferably rubber, which will be form maintaining, and constructed in a manner whereby the rubber will not contact the skin of the wearer, and perspiration will not reach the metallic hook forming part of the fastener. Y

A further object is to provide the body of the fastener with a plurality of fastenerv hook receiving apertures, which apertures are adapted to receive a hook having a plurality of fingers, thereby increasing the strength of the device, and at the same time allowing freedom of movement of the body from side to side, without a pivotal action of the hook or body in relation to each other. Y

A further object is to provide the underside of the pliable body, with a longitudinally extending channel, into which channel the hooks extend, and the under side withafabric layer, preferably of bias material which will allow a limited stretching, prevent engagement of the channeled body with Ythe skinA of the wearer, and at the same time prevent perspiration from reaching the metallic hook ends in the channel.

' With the above'and'other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fastener, showing the parts in position to be brought together.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the fastener body.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken 2 on line 3-3 of Figure 1,v showing the hook in position. Y

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the fastener body, taken online 4-4 of Figure 2. y y

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the fastener body, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2. VFigure 6 is a view in elevation of a modified form of fastener body, `showing four rows of hook receiving apertures for relatively wide brassire ends, where a plurality of double hooks can be used. Y

Figure 7 is a sectionalfview through a mold showing the method of forming the fastener body.

Figure '7a is a perspective view of one of the lugs shown in Figure 'I for forming the hook apertures.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of fastener, wherein the end of the fastener body is attached directly to the end of the brassire;

Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of the body,

' showing the fabric rear layer partially removed to better show the hook receiving channel.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line Ill--IU of .Figure 8. Y Figure 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line I I-I I of Figure'10.

Figure 12 is a View in elevation of the fastener,

, showing the range of adjustability and the position of the parts while in use.

Figure 13 isa perspective view of the fastener body shown in Figure 8, but showing a slot in the end of the body for the reception of a strap to connect the same to a brassire end.

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing a single row of hookreceiving apertures, transversely elongated for receiving a wide hook. Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates the body of the fastener, whichbody is preferably Vformed from rubber,A however applicant does not limit himself to this material. It has been found, by forming the body I of rubber that it will maintain its form at all times, and at the same time will conform to the contour of the body of the user. It has the additional advantage of maintaining its form so the unused end will not hang downwardly out of alinement with the brassire end, upon small adjustments, such as shown in Figure 12, and which is one of the main objections to brassire fasteners formed of fabric, as at present constructed. Y

vulcanized, or otherwise secured, 'to the inner side of the body I is a fabric Ilayer 2, Iwhich layer is preferably biased in rel-ation to the body I, as shown in Figure 9, so it will not break away from the body I upon the flexing or slight stretching of said body. 'Ilhe fastener body as a whole is preferably formed in va vulcanizing mold between mold section-s 3, as shown in Figure '7. t will be seen that the upper mold section 3 is provided with downwardly extending lugs 4, having horizontal arms 5, 'and these arms form the L #shaped apertures 6 in the body I, clearly shown in Figure 3.

The L-shaped apertures i6 are preferably in |a connection at spaced vertical points, conse.V

quently the body I will be maintained in alinement with the brassire ends 9 at all times,` no matter how the body is twisted for Varying the contour of the body vin diiierent positions. It will be noted that the longitudinally extending branches I of ,the L-shaped apertures 5 are spaced from, the inner fabric lining Z'bya rub-l ber wall II, hence perspiration that may be absorbed` in the lining 2 will not reach the hooks 'I andcause them to rust, as is now the common difficulty with fabric connectors, using eyes and staples. Fabric lining 2 keeps the rubber body from engaging the body of the wearer and causin g' irritation.

'One end of the body is provided with a vertical slot I2 extending therethrough for the' reception of the elastici connector I3, `which is sewed at I4 tothe brassire end. Hook member 8 is connected to the other end of the brassire by the elastic-connector I5. v Referringto the `forms shown in Figures 8 to l2 inclusive, the rear side of the body I6 is proe vided with alongitudinally extending channel H, the central portion I8 being provided with hook receiving apertures I9, and in this iorm of the invention the fabric lining 2 closes the channel II andsprevents the -contact of the hooks 1 with the body of the weareniand prevents cor# rosion from perspiration. One end of the body I6 is reduced in thickness' at ZIJ so it can be stitched directly tothe brassire end 9, as at 2|, hence it will be seen that the brassire end will be held extended at all times, and will assist in the uplift.

In some brassires the ends are relativelywide `rand involve the use oiaV wide connector, :as shown in Figure 6, andin which figure'provision isf made Vfor the reception of two double hooks, otherwise the construction and operation is the same.

`Figure 13 shows 'the same construction, except that the end of the body is provided with a vertically elongatedA slot I2, similar to the slot I2 in Figure for thel reception of the connecting strap I3. Y

" Referringto' Figure 14, the yconstruction and vstaples which easily tear out of the strip and stretch to a stringy appearance.

The device can be made in various colors, 'according to the 'color of the brassire. To facilitate the handling of the hook 8 during the connecting operation,- the inner end of the hook is provided with :an lextension 8a, which may be grasped between ithe iingers.

The invention having :been set forth what is claimed as newiandusef-ul is: v

' 1. The combina-tion lwith-,lznrassire ends, of a fastener ythereor, said fastener comprising a body member formed from a single pieceA of semierigid form retaining material and` connected to one of the brassire ends, a connecting member carried by theother brassire end Vand adapted to interengage withthe body rmember entirely within the 'lines of the body member,- a lining carried by said body member on its inner side, a plurality of fastener receiving L-'slraped apertures inthe body member, said connecting member comprising a plurality Io L-shaped members adapted to be received in the aperturesV and`L terminating spaced from the inner and outer sides of the body member.`

2. A device 'as set forth in claim 1 wherein ithe body member is provided with? a plurality of L--shapedhook receiving apertures extending inwardly `and longitudinally towards the outer end 4of the body member'.

3., A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body'member is provided with a plurality of rows of apertures forthe reception of the fastening means, said aperturesrextending transversely in- Wardly and longitudinally towards the free end ofthe body nimber in'spa'ced relation to the inner and outer 'faces of the'bod'y member.

ALAN J. FOX.

`REl?RENCES CITEDA The following-references are' of recordin the i'le of this patent:

'Urn'rny "D STATES PA'I'ENTS 

